Choosing Your Photographer Lesson #6

Short and sweet...which do you want your photographer to provide to you for your WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS? Yeah, that most important day in your entire life.

If a photographer says they will give you pictures straight from the camera burned to a disc...for a really cheap price...as compared to real, honest-to-goodness, professional photographers...RUN! A professional would never, ever provide you with such a low-level of service. Well, that's not completely true. Most will not. I have actually had brides bring me their disc of images to "fix". They were heartbroken at the quality. Oh, and this from from a studio photographer. For just a little more they could have had better, much better.

Be careful what you ask for, most of the time you get what you pay for. In one bride's case, she paid $1000 for 288 pictures and she got pictures straight out-of-the-camera. Just like the one here. Even worse, they looked like a 9 year old took the pictures. In her case she didn't even get what she paid for.

Click on the picture to view a larger image...you choose the destiny of your wedding photographs.

I Am Not Sure Why...

...but I just like the "ring" pictures.

This is from the Amanda and Mitchell shoot last Saturday. In case you are into photography, contrary to popular belief, it does not take a whole lot of props and lighting do get some great detailed shots.

I was packing everything into the car, and I just happen to notice Amanda's ring and remembered (duh!) I needed another ring shot. I "commanded" her to give me her ring...surprisingly she obeyed...I mean, did.

I told Mitchell to open his hand. I positioned the ring and "click". So there you go, no special lighting. In fact the original was rather dull looking.

Now, I will have to say there is SIGNIFICANT post-production work in Photoshop, but overall this was the shot I took, right there in the driveway. If I tell you how I made the "rock" pop with a little light, I will have to leave town...top secret, you know.

(I might post a "before" and "after" pic later - so check back - the difference will be so amazing, you will want to send me money!!)

Don't forget about those gift certificates...Click here to order one for them!

Congratulations to Amanda and Mitchell!!

Amanda Powell and Mitchell Vaughan are getting married, December 27, 2008, at the Coosada Baptist Church in Coosada, Alabama. The reception is to be held at the Legends Ballroom.

We took the engagement pictures yesterday, but I wanted to get at least one up on the blog. You can look at all of their engagement pictures, as I get them online, here.

To view their "Wedding Spotlight" listing, go to the homepage and click on the "Wedding Spotlight" graphic. Their listing is on the first page (A = Amanda). There you will be able to view the Gallery, the WebShow and the Album Showcase from one location. Sorta one-stop shopping!!

Once the wedding has passed, they will also have a listing on the homepage under the "Featured Bride" graphic. You will be able to access everything there until the next wedding.

Okay, I know you want to make their wedding photography a wonderful experience...soooo... Click here to order a gift certificate for them!

No, really...do it now so you won't forget. You want them to love you, don't you?

Savannah and Jason...

Ok, I have some more engagement pictures uploaded for Savannah Garner and Jason Peregoy. Unfortunately, I still have some to process.

In case this is your first time to view them, they decided they wanted their engagement pictures to reflect their acting passions. I think that is a great idea!

This is a composite I did...do you get it? She's thinking about him...yeah, ok.

Here is another one, I will title, "Ruby".


Please don't say, "her head is cut-off." This is one of those "artsy" prints, I like to do. The image has been watercolored.

Both were taken in the dressing room at the Theater at University of South Alabama in Mobile.

This couple has soooooo many pictures to edit through, etc. Since we shot them in Mobile, I wanted to kinda take my time and take a lot of photographs. I am going to really, really try to knock the rest of their pictures out this weekend. I do have 2 shooting sessions and one wedding album bride meeting on Saturday, so I don't know if that will happen, but I will try.

More later, so check the website.

You haven't ordered that gift certificate for them!
(They are waiting...)

Tired of Telemarketer Calls?

This is hilarious!!

Click Here.

Sea Nymphs Found on Beach!!!

Just had to post this photo. I did not take the picture, but kinda enhanced it a bit with some retouching, more "sun" and "glow" thingys, a little vignetting and soft edging, then printed it on fine art paper. This is Morgan and Megan. Their mother is my sister-in-law (Angelle) ... kind-of-thing.

Yes, good looking girls run on both sides of the family. Between my daughters, Ashley and Michelle, and Megan and Morgan here and Jessica and Jileen (daughters of Angelle's brother Bryan) we pretty much have genetically-proven, good looking girls. I should start selling the formula on my website store. Maybe I would not be so lonely. Yes, it is very sad.

Megan just recently got the "master-of-the-universe" Nikon 70-200 VR lens. Awesome lens. Congrats on spending THAT MUCH MONEY!! To all her relatives...YES, there is a difference in lenses and YES it is worth every penny (or multiples of many, many dollars - it's a secret because you just really do not want to know) so just chill.

It's heavy too, I have one.

Well, well, well...what are the chances?

A lady stopped me downstairs in the hall this morning, here in the building, and who would have guessed who she was...Savannah's mom! She works in the same building.

I could not believe.

Just as an update, I am still working on some of their engagement pictures. I was able to get a few more up last weekend. I am working on some of them now.

Her mom didn't really know I was the one who shot her daughter's engagement pictures until she looked at the website and saw the address, name, etc.

Fate is a wonderful thing...most of the time.

Have you ordered a gift certificate yet for them? Click here to order one, they will love you! (I promise they will)

Congratulations to Hunter & Jake!!

They are getting married May 24, 2008, at Children's Harbor Church at Lake Martin. I shot an engagement session out there recently and it is awesome. Kinda windy, but a beautiful location for a wedding right by the lake.

We just took the engagement pictures yesterday morning at Shakespeare, so I wanted to hurry and get at least one of them up. I will be working on the rest of them through the weekend into the first of the week. You can click here to view all the engagement photos on the website as I get them posted.

(You can click on the picture above to view a larger version of it)

If you go directly to the homepage on the website, click on the "Wedding Spotlight" graphic in the lower-middle section. Then click on the "H" (for Hunter) and view their Wedding Spotlight Graphic. That way you can get used to viewing everything from there.

Once the wedding has passed, they will be featured on the homepage under the "Featured Bride" section, until the next wedding.

If you want them to love you, Click here to order a gift certificate for them!
(Conversly, if you don't...they won't...Fact of Life #761).

Congratulations...

go to Melanie Musgrave and Robert Taylor on their upcoming wedding, Saturday, May 31, 2008!

The ceremony and reception will be held at the St. Paul Lutheran church on Atlanta Highway here in Montgomery.

We just took the engagement pictures yesterday, so I wanted to hurry and get at least one of them up. I will be working on the rest of them through the weekend. You can click here to view all the engagement photos on the website as I get them posted.

(You can click on the picture above to view a larger version of it)

If you go directly to the homepage on the website, click on the "Wedding Spotlight" graphic in the lower-middle section. Then click on the "M" (for Melanie) and view their Wedding Spotlight Graphic. That way you can get used to viewing everything from there.

Once the wedding has passed, they will be featured on the homepage under the "Featured Bride" section, until the next wedding.

Just in case you forgot, or you are new to the site, Click here to order a gift certificate for them, they will love you!
(Conversly, if you don't...they won't...Fact of Life #761).

So, did you read about my daughter, Ashley? Scroll down and remember her name.

WOW...My Daughter is a STAR!!!

Just got a call from my Daughter, Ashley (Duggan-Smith). She had auditioned, in New Orleans recently, for a major motion picture, starring Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor. The film title is "I Love You Phillip Morris" and is to be filmed in the New Orleans area.

SHE GOT THE PART!!! IS THIS COOL OR WHAT??!!!

Check back for more updates, I need to make some calls.

Here are some links to her wedding WebShows:

A Father's Farewell
Ashley and Albert

Fan Club dues will be reasonable... payable in advance...I take Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards...LOL!

View Wedding Prices Online

Now you can download a wedding brochure online (#2). I am experimenting with this to see how well it works.

You will need a fast internet connection, because it is still a rather large file. If you have any problems downloading it, then just click on the "Request a Brochure" (#1) and I will be happy to send you one. Don't forget to include your mailing address in your request.

Rescheduled Engagement Shoot

The engagement shoot scheduled today for Hunter Sanders and Jake Shepherd has been rescheduled for next Saturday. The weather was just not cooperating today.

So if you are anticipating those pictures this weekend...it will be next weekend.

New Engagement Pictures Coming for...

Hunter Sanders and Jake Shepherd. I will be taking those on Saturday, at Shakespeare Festival. The picture above is the bridge located there. I call it the Lover's Bridge. You can view this picture and other WONDERFUL things in the Blue Moon Gallery (shameless plug).

I will have more information about their wedding, along with a picture of the happy couple posted here this weekend...probably.

Here is a link to their soon-to-be picture Gallery.

And without trying to repeat myself...but, Click here to order a gift certificate for them, they will love you!
(Conversly, if you don't...they won't...Fact of Life #761)

Geezzuuumm!

Sorry for the delay in posting stuff. I have been busy behind the computer getting pictures retouched and enhanced. Just takes a lot of time.

Some interesting stats, for those people just dying to keep track of all this:

My little website has had 149,564 hits since the beginning of the year. That is an increase of 100.3% over the same time last year.

It looks like it is not uncommon to range from 2500 - 15,000 hits...A DAY! That depends on what is recently posted.

For those keeping track of specific countries looking me over:

Portugal 4 visitors
Poland 12 visitors
France 9 visitors
Canada 15 visitors
Germany 8 visitors
Egypt 1 visitor
UK 6 visitors
Korea(R) 6 visitors
India 6 visitors

For those of you, from those countries, that read my blog and visit my website...I TRAVEL!!!

Another Congratulations!!!

Savannah Garner and Jason Peregoy are getting married June 7, 2008, at Jasmine Hill Gardens, just north of Montgomery.

Jasmine Hill Gardens is a wonderful place to get married at. Lots of garden areas (well duh ... right?). Should be a wonderful event.

They have been signed up for a while, but just recently took their engagement pictures at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

I am working on getting those up as quickly as I can. You can click here to view them. I will post more as I get them retouched, enhanced and generally prettied-up.

They are active in the theater down there, so I am going to see if I can do some special "movie poster" things...we will see...hmmmm. But I will get the general pictures posted first before I work on those.

As with other wedding announcements, Click here to order a gift certificate for them, they will love you!
(Conversly, if you don't...they won't...Fact of Life #761)

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations go to Brittany Gay and Daniel Land on their upcoming wedding Saturday, June 21, 2008, in Destin, Florida at the Four Points Sheraton (seems to be an aweful lot of commas in this sentence).

YEAH...a real beach wedding!!!

Should be fun and some really nice pictures. Click here to view their Engagement photos.

Click here to order a gift certificate for them, they will love you!
(Conversly, if you don't...they won't...Fact of Life #761)

New Homepage Feature

Now you can have easy access to the "Choosing Your Photographer" blog entry series. This will make finding and viewing them much easier.

Just click on the "Lesson..." number you want to read and it will be displayed for you.

All pages contain useful information when shopping for your wedding photographer. Heck, print them out and start asking questions when you speak with other photographers or studios. You might be surprised what answers you will hear!

Whew!!!

Oh my!!! It has been an incredible couple of weeks. I have photographed so many couples in the last 2 weeks. I am still trying to get caught up.

For those couples still waiting to see ANYTHING...just bear with me. I am getting to them in the order they were photographed, it is just taking me a while to get that far. It just takes sooooo long to get the files downloaded, then I do a backup of the raw files AND a backup of the files turned into JPG format (that's the format prints are made from) THEN renumber the JPGs, THEN burn everything to a DVD, THEN I can begin the process or editing, enhancing and retouching. It can literally take hours. For the actual wedding pictures the hours can be multiplied by a factor of 5...at least.

I have 3 bridal consultations this Saturday, so it will be a mind-numbing day.

The pansy picture above is from one of my engagement shoots. It has been oil painted. I may need to get it put on canvas.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations go to Charlotte Daniel and Keith Carr on their upcoming wedding on June 14, 2008!

Their wedding will be held at the Rocky Mount Bed & Breakfast located in Prattville, AL.

Click here to view all their engagement photos.

Click here to order a gift certificate for them, they will love you!
(Conversly, if you don't...they won't...Fact of Life #761)

Krista's & Terry's Wedding Update

Just as an update, I have completed the final WebShow and it is up for viewing.

I have also posted all the photos I have used in the WebShow on the website's Gallery. Just to kinda kick-start the Gallery. There are many more photos that will need to be posted after I get the Album Showcase finished.

I will start working on the Album Showcase on Wednesday or Thursday. That should take me through the weekend. It is an involved process, to say the least. I am running a little late getting that started since I had a really, really, really busy weekend, in addition to their wedding.

Oh, and I guess I need to clarify the picture here...this is NOT the bride getting dressed...but she was in the wedding and she is really cute.